Nestled in Al Wusail, is the Lusail International Circuit, a world class motorsports track and is the only circuit in the region to be awarded the highest rating by FIA (International Automobile Federation) and the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation).

The circuit is 5,380m long with 16 turns; 6 left and 10 right, a width of 12m and a clock-wise direction. Furthermore, floodlighting can be utilized to provide daylight conditions at night

At the invitation of Grazia Magazine & Lexus, I attended one of their Female Track Days, an initiative by the Lusail International Circuit.

No stranger to this venue, I immediately accepted the invitation, as it was an opportunity to be on the track instead of the usual, watching the MotoGP riders racing on this very track.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by friendly familiar faces.

“Our aim today is to provide our female guests a unique and amazing driving experience where they will push our vehicles to their limits.” Said Firas Mufti – Senior Marketing Manager Lexus

In the welcome area, the Lexus ES350 Hybrid was on display. a sport sedan, that doesn’t abandon luxury: The interior is fairly roomy and the seats are comfy, offering a smooth ride and a cabin that is generally quiet and well-ventilated.

Once all the formalities were completed, we were presented with four models for testing on the track including the RC-F, GS-F, LC Hybrid and IS-F Sport. A co-driver was assigned to each car to guide and assist the driver on the safety measures of the track and the technological attributes of the vehicle.

My first test vehicle was a Lexus IS-F Sport, a fine and sporty sedan that looks good and offers a heap of driving enjoyment. It dives into corners willingly and exits them in a composed manner; the interior of the IS, is a comfy place to be while sporting snazzy touches.

My second test drive was the Lexus RC-F. Designed for optimum high-speed stability to support outstanding performance, I definitely felt a better connection with the steering wheel, and a lot more confident when maneuvering my way through the circuit. With its superb styling, design and unprecedented power and handling capabilities, the RC-F opens up a new era for women on wheels.

Unfortunately due to prior engagements, I was unable to stay longer and test drive the other vehicles.

Thank you to the team of Lusail International Circuit, Grazia Magazine and Lexus for a pleasant Saturday afternoon driving experience.

A spur of the moment decision, it was just around mid-day when I decided to pursue the long overdue visit to Banana Island. With a few simple phone calls, all was confirmed. Driving to the terminal with nothing else but the clothes on my body, I called my best friend, my confidant, my partner to collect a few belongings and head over to Banana Island and meet me, for a much-needed reconnecting staycation on the island.

As I sat at the terminal’s VIP lounge thinking when was the last time I had acted so impulsively, I suddenly felt the excitement – at the prospect of spending quality time, enjoying nature, long walks on the beach, the catchups, late breakfast – and, it all became so real.

On arrival at the island, I was greeted by the traditional sound of the drums; I stood for a few minutes taking in the sight and sounds.

At the welcome desk, Abdul welcomed me. Check-in was seamless and soon enough, I was on my way to our room. Abdul assured me that he would facilitate my husband’s arrival.

Soon after settling in, I was taken on a tour of the island to familiarize with the awesome facilities available in the island.

No sooner, I was taken to the spa, for our first ever “couple’s massage”.

Husband: At this time of the year, it was just perfect timing to board the boat from Doha at 5 pm. The 30 minutes boat ride meant that as I reached the island, the sun was just about to set. And what a sight to behold! The spectrum of the colours of the sunset reminded me of the colours of the rainbow. And, like the proverbial “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”, our stay on the island, was simply, fabulous, to say the least.

I arrived late, having had to go for an appointment that I could not afford to miss, thereafter rushing home to collect some of our belongings as per my wife’s request. As I arrived at the Welcome Centre on the island, I was warmly greeted and quickly whizzed by Abdul, a South African who had been working on the island for the last 2 years, towards the Spa where we had booked a “Couple’s Massage”. “

We have both gone for massages before, but this was a completely different experience, having my significant other just next to me undergoing the same treatment. The room’s lighting and Zen music in the background, set the mood and the tone. It was calming and soothing. And, before you know it, we were simply relaxing having our tensed muscles being relieved and the frenzied pace of the past weeks, slowly but surely going away with every smooth stroke being applied by the well-trained masseuse. As in life, however, time passes by very quickly when you are enjoying something. And so, what was supposed to be a 2-hour session seemed to be over in minutes.

While waiting for the golf buggy to take us back to our room, we were greeted by Jessica, the Spa Manager who had been on the island for just over 6 months. She was explaining to us the variety of massages they offer (I guess, that is part of her job) and before you know it, I was signing up for the “Royal Moroccan Hammam” experience (one more off my bucket list). More of that later.

Back in our room, and what a pleasant surprise. Obviously, the housekeeping team has been briefed of our arrival and went out of their way to decorate the room and displaying their creativity.

As for the room itself, it was very spacious; they even had the bathtub in the room for guests to soak themselves in while looking over the balcony and the sea. The shower facilities with a rain shower was exceptional. My only wish was that the water pressure was stronger, and it would have been perfect to get the real rain shower feeling.

After a bit of rest, we went for dinner at Al Nahham Restaurant. The mezze platters were great especially the Muhammara and Khebez (Lebanese bread) were fresh and warm. Suffice to say, I could just survive on the bread and mezze platters alone. In any case, we had ordered main courses and were certainly, not disappointed as well.

The staff were very attentive, ensuring our dining experience would be well remembered.

We made our way back to our room, a leisurely walk through the gardens after our indulgence during dinner.

Husband: The next morning, we woke up feeling calm and relaxed. We sat for a while on the balcony, catching up, taking in the view, the cool weather with a slight breeze provided the perfect elements to start our day.

We then headed to Azraq Restaurant for breakfast. They had a great selection and we were spoilt for choice. After last night’s dinner, however, we could not do justice to the sumptuous offerings.

We opted for the outdoor seating, watching the birds helping themselves to whatever was available as guests left something behind for them.

After breakfast, we went on a Pontoon Boat ride and toured some parts of the island. Unfortunately, the wind picked up speed, and we could not go around the whole island. Regardless, it was an enjoyable tour with great company as little Sophie, shared more information about the island.

I headed back to the spa for my very first Royal Moroccan Hammam experience. Inspired by an ancient but integral part of Moroccan life, I was seated on a hot marble table, while the masseuse patiently explained to me about the processes involved and the products being used.

I was then shown to this beautifully created bath, where I soaked for a few minutes whilst beams of sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling.

After being doused with water, she covered my body with traditional black soap and scrubbed with a kesse mitt to sweep away dead skin cells, before I was gently cocooned in a ghassoul wrap infused with rose water, then whisked away to an overwater treatment room for a pampering back massage.

It was a good hour and half well spent, being pampered from head to toe and worth every Riyal.

Such a rejuvenating and unique experience.

And then, it was time for a light lunch at Q-Lounge, a nice pool-side restaurant just off the beach.

After a relatively short lunch, we decided to take a leisurely walk along the beach towards the jetty as it was time to go home.

How the time passes by so quickly when you are having fun, I really don’t know. It just seemed like I was on a non-stop, whirlwind experiential trip, doing one thing after another. No regrets though, for a visit that left us both feeling relaxed and rejuvenated But, I know now that the next time I go to Banana Island, I would plan for more than just an overnight trip. I did not manage any of the water sport activities or the golf putting course or even try my hand at scuba diving!

The last 8 months have definitely been a rollercoaster ride. I shall not bore you with too many details, suffice to say, work amongst other activities (will be sharing them with you briefly) have kept me away from my blog.

Let’s Talk Jewellery…

Last month, we saw the 16th edition of Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition

With more than 27,000 visits over the six days, an Indian Pavillions (as part of the Qatar-India Year of culture – 2019) and a charity auction (with proceeds to Education Above All Foundation) , the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2019, concluded on a high note, making this year’s exhibition the largest in terms of participation, with more than 500 brands from over 10 countries covering an areas of 29,000 square metres.

The 16th edition saw the participation of the Young Qatari Designers (YQD) initiative for the third year in a row, where a special pavilion was dedicated to the 12 young Qatari designers, under the patronage of Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of Interior H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Here are some of the designers, whom I had the privilege of meeting.

Leila Issam Abuissa

“Anything Art” A motto Leila Issam has held dear to her heart at a very young age. During a time when children exhibit signs of whether they will grow into appreciators of Art or its architects, Leila clearly had the qualities of the latter.

With a Baccalaureate in French Literature and Philosophy; a combination she felt necessary in order to better understand the discipline that continues today in her thinking process of creating luxury products. She then moved to Paris to study art and design where she experimented with different fine art techniques, as well as design in all its forms be it conceptual or interior.

it was only after she moved to Florence did the Jewellery world strike her from every angle, thus began a quest for an Art form she would take on as her own.

Hissa & Jawaher Al Mannai.

It all started out as our past time when the two sisters repurposed their mother’s unwanted accessories and recreated new designs from it. Using their creativity, they went on to create fashionable necklaces and bracelets made of crystals, marbles, ropes, elastic and ribbons. They began their private collection and sometimes adding other accessories and vintage pieces, with this a dream was born, to create their own masterpieces, Their fascination and passion for jewellery saw them travelling extensively, this was necessary for them to establish Ghand – derived from the sugar crystals and how they look exactly like diamonds

“Our philosophy is to be imaginative and creative in our designs; our signature pieces are versatile”. Their personalities are so evident in their creation, a combination of Hissa’s taste for the bold and Jawaher’s preference for simplicity.

Fajr Al Attiya,

For Fajr, it all began with designing bags, however her love for beautiful aesthetics took her one step further into the world of precious metals and gems. Inspired by nature’s most beautiful creations, Fajr set out to cast the beautiful sites into eternal jewelry pieces that will be treasured. This led to the birth of Trifoglio in 2015 and the launch of her first collection in early 2016 followed by her first range of luxury leather good.

The popular The DJWE Forum, returned for the second year, with the participation of Qatari and international experts, designers and professors of history and arts in the jewellery and watches industry. The most prominent of these were Mr. Alex Popov, President of the Moscow Diamond Exchange, Geoffroy Ader of Artcurial, and Melvyn Kirtley, senior gemmologist at Tiffany & Co.

The sessions included discussions on Qatar’s rich heritage and the history of jewellery and pearls in Qatar. Among the distinguished academic speakers at the forum were Dr. Najla Ismail and Dr. Jochen Sokoly,

The prestigious French watchmakers Objectif Horlogerie presented free “Discover Watchmaking” workshops for all, and renowned expert Geoffroy Ader presented daily high-level educational talks, with the Qatar Watch Club in cooperation with the Turkish Watches Club. Jewellery workshops were held, dealing with precious stones, and providing advice on the evaluation of diamonds.

This was definitely an opportunity to feat your eyes on exquisite pieces of jewellery and watches.

just a little over 2 weeks ago, I entered a new phase in my life. I am officially someone’s mother-in-law, for the first time, as my youngest son married the love of his life.

In spite of living in different continents, in my attempts to jointly organize the wedding, from the hall to the caterer, the menu to the wedding favors, the shopping for a dress that fits and finding the right pair of shoes, alhamdulillah (thanks to God), it was all smooth sailing.

As the day drew closer, thoughts about my mother and my sister were constantly with me, the fact that they were not going to be present to witness and share this special day.

How I wish that my mother had been with us, to guide and support me, the advice, the long chats, her smile reassuring me that it is all going to be just fine, her wise words of advice to my son as she would lovingly smile at him, my sister’s unconditional love, her gentle and kind nature; without a doubt they were missed, they were such a big part of his life, now a young man taking this enormous step in his life.

It is milestones like this that makes us appreciate what we have in our lives, yet remembering the losses we have experienced. They say that time is a great healer, but it hasn’t gotten any easier nor does it take away the sadness or loss.

Suffice to say that the support from my husband, my father, my brother, my children and my extended family saw me through the challenge of trying to organize a wedding from thousands of kilometers away.

It was a small and intimate affair. Welcoming the young lady into our family was such a pleasure, the look in my son’s eyes, said it all, I am grateful for the way she makes him feel so happy.

A lifetime that’s unfolded before me and one I’ve had the honor to be a part of and will forever cherish.

I’ve been trying to write this for the last 2 months but every time I try to type this little note, I start crying and have to put it down. But today, on your wedding day, the tears will just have to flow as I type….

Despite my very flawed parenting abilities, you’ve turned into a pretty awesome young man. Saying that I am experiencing mixed emotions would be an understatement, sadness and joy, sadness as one of my greatest roles in life shifts gear – yes mothering you! as a mum I am expected to work myself out of my “mothering” role, a tough one indeed, yet as I watch you become the husband to a wonderful young lady, I am consumed with joy as you move on to start your own family,

My hope is that you never grow tired of hearing me say “do come and visit me”, “I miss you” or “I love you” for when I say these to you they speak volumes and I mean it…

To this day, I can close my eyes and see you sitting on the living room floor with all your Legos and your gongs (marbles) scattered around. Indeed “I love you” comes with a flood of wonderful memories and there is nothing you can do about the fact that I love you and always will, I will never stop being your mother, yet today I open my eyes to see – a young man I’m so proud of and extremely happy for.

Waseem, my sweet Bébé, this girl you’ve picked… I cannot think of anyone who could be more perfect for you, indeed Allah (SWT) is the best of planners.

In the brief encounters that I had the pleasure of connecting with Yumna, she seems to have a personality that compliments yours. Inshaallah, your common personality traits will help contribute towards lasting happiness in your marriage.

My advice to you:
Above all remember Allah (SWT) and always be grateful.

Don’t let anyone tell you that Marriage is 50/50. It most certainly is not! You have to give 100% to your marriage and that’s a tall order. My Bébé, rest-assured it is not a job to take lightly as it requires a lot from you, such as:

. Sacrifice
. Grace
. Gentleness
. Compassion
. Comfort
. Compromise

My prayer for you both is that Allah (SWT) blesses your marriage, a marriage that will last a lifetime, filled with love, joy, compassion, understanding, trust, hope, health, wealth all wrapped in HIS mercy and light, always guiding and protecting you and your family.
I also pray that Allah (SWT) makes it easy for you to go through the trials and tribulations of married life and that you are blessed with beautiful children, full of piety and respectful, who will make you as happy as you have made me.

It would be remiss of me not to thank all my family members who have extended a helping hand in one way or another, towards making this joyous occasion.
Once again, Yumna, sweetheart, welcome to the family and to everyone else who made the effort to join us in celebrating Waseem’s and Yumna’s wedding.

WASEEM, LIFE CHANGES FROM THIS MOMENT ON….
Your Mama”

Have you had a similar experience? if so how, how did you handle it?

Please do share your experiences with me as I would love to read about it.

Look out for my next post on how I co-planned this wedding, whilst living continents apart….

It has been a while since I shared my thoughts or experiences on my page, it has been a busy time for me and my family.

I know that 3 weeks have passed since Ramadan ended, however, I still chose to share my thoughts and feelings about Ramadan, most certainly my favourite time of the year; as we go through our usual emotional preparation, using this time to realign, reflect and re-evaluate our personal growth, understanding our own weaknesses and fears, addressing misunderstandings with grace and dignity, evaluating the challenges that we faced and what we learned from them, and everything around us.

As muslims, during the month long observance of Ramadaan, we fast from sunrise to sunset, 30 days and nil by mouth, not even water, from sunrise to sunset.

This is an incredibly positive time in our lives, an experience that enables our personal spiritual healing and physical well-being as well as everything around us, a time to remind ourselves to be kind to ourselves and others, making the most of everyday; a time of cleansing and self-control, and how we nourish our bodies during this time is central to it.

It is during this time that we also partake in Zakaat (charity based on portion of one’s accumulated wealth) which goes to those facing challenging times, a form of compensation or mandatory “give back” if you will, a mechanism to alleviate poverty; an accountability for our communities.

I love the fact that Ramadaan serves as a reminder that we are part of the Ummah (Arabic: أمة‎ [ˈʊm.mæ]) an Arabic word meaning “community”, a global community.

Ramadan brings family and communities together through the power of faith and prayer.

Unlike in South Africa, in Qatar, we are very fortunate to work reduced hours, (mine in particular, was from 9am-2pm, leaving me with ample time to rest, pray and prepare for Iftar (breaking the fast)

The entire city comes to life in the evenings, For a few minutes as the sun sets, there is a pleasing sense of calm before the sound of the cannon and soon after, the Adhaan (call to prayer) streaming out of mosques, with hands raised we pray with the most heartfelt sincerity in the hope that our fast and efforts have been accepted. We then break our fast with dates and water (dates have been traditionally eaten to break the fast because they serve as a good source of natural sugar, fiber, energy, and essential minerals, and the importance of water and hydration requires no further introduction;) according to the Hadith, (“News” or “Story”, also spelled Hadīt, record of the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), revered and received as a major source of religious law and moral guidance, second only to the authority of the Qurʾān, the holy book of Islam or the written collection of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ), the Prophet(ﷺ) encouraged breaking the fast with dates and water because of their nutritional value.)

My Fatoor/Iftar menu has certainly changed, a far cry from all sorts of savouries, fried and baked, not to mention the sugar overdose, with an hour and half of total inability to move my limbs; from a food coma to simpler healthier meals and the credit for this goes to my better half. A great time to remind myself to slow down, not overdo it and appreciate and nurture my body.

For me, this year was particularly emotional, still trying to come to grips with my greatest loss in 2015, my best friend, my confidant, my mother (Ayesha), how I miss her…

Ramadan 2017, I suffered further losses, my sister (Nádia), my Uncle Mohammed and Mohammed Yussuf (my housekeeper’s son) at the tender age of 15, Allah knows best (الله اعلم). Trying to accept the losses, remaining grateful and finding solace in my conversations with Allah, while planning my son’s wedding scheduled for the Friday after Eid-ul-Fitr (more about this in my next post),

The first heartbeat I heard was yours
the first arms to hold me
The first one to show me love
The first one to teach me lessons in life
The first to hold me when I took my first steps
The first one to show me acceptance
The first one to comfort me when I needed most
The first one I called to share my news, good or bad
The first one to guide me through my struggles and my pain
The first one I think of when making decisions, big or small

Because I have always had a mother!

I miss you more than I could ever express,
The pain I feel in my heart is from one unimaginable day,
Now, afraid of life, my footsteps now on an unsure path
how I wish you could have stayed just a little while longer

Just because someone, somewhere, decided on an age-appropriate dressing concept without your consent,don’t allow someone else’s notion of taste inhibit your own taste. Conditioning you to think that the older you get the more conservative you have to dress robbing you of your creativity; dictating that colour and vibrancy no longer form part of your interest and suggesting that appropriateness, restraint and formality should now be your objective.

At 55, I cannot fathom why this restrictive concept of age-appropriate dressing was given the nod, I for once, believe that the older you get, the more bold and playful you should become in your dress, having paid your dues you have earned the right to dress boldly and to value comfort over fashion, so don’t allow society to define you., having said that, I am not suggesting that we become distasteful, tacky; no, on the contrary, let’s add some fun and creativity to our own style, be willing to take risks but know your limits.

With some high street fashion stores showcasing new collections every fortnight, online flash sales, mobile apps and home deliveries, stylish clothing has never been more readily available, dare I say that multitude of options might leave you feeling slightly overwhelmed when it comes to decision making, but worry no more, chances are that you fall into one of the following 3 categories, so I propose 3 different styles which might help to reinvigorate your closet.

This style is great for people over 50 as it is more forgiving than the sophisticated style, the lose cut provides comfort, the signature hand-stitched tote and a pashmina or shawl instead of a structured coat.

Eccentric

Despite their small numbers, Eccentrics are the kind of people whose entire existence is devoted to individuality and innovation, making our world a more interesting place by challenging our preconceived notions of beauty and taste while inspiring us all to step outside our comfort zone raising the bar on the impossible.

Sophisticated

Feminine and appealing, it is all about glamour sometimes bordering on allure.

Good fit and simplicity are the key to this style. The love for a well tailored jacket and accessories. An unapologetic shoe addict with an obsession for handbags and impeccably groomed make up the signature of the sophisticated, always alluding to happiness, prosperity and optimism

I know that somedays all this sounds too much effort and we would much rather potter around the house, growing organic veggies or create art instead of running around makeup counters, paging through fashion magazines or retail store apps, so we opt for the boho chic style and on others days we feel inspired to express ourselves in a different way , getting all groomed up with immaculately well groomed nails and shoes on point but on the odd occasion we may feel the urge to make a statement by being somewhat eccentric in our taste, the point is that none of these are right or wrong, the most important while adjusting or up-cycling your style with creativity is to have fun and never forgetting to love the girl in the mirror.

At times you might feel that your very own style is at the far spectrum of others and that is perfectly acceptable because that is you, remember that you are beautiful, smart,wise, funny and kind.

Oh so many changes, changes everywhere, understanding and accepting that at 50 you will never look 30 again.

Our face shape changes leaving many of us to discover our cheekbones for the first time in our 50’s, our skin starts to dry out, with it the growth of crow’s feet, giving us that washed out look, so our beauty routine has to be well thought through.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturize daily

Try using organic olive oil at night as a substitute for your regular moisturizer. Apply a teaspoon of the oil to the face and neck.

Use light reflecting tinted moisturizers, take care not to go too pale, a little foundation mixed with your moisturizer can provide you more coverage.

Makeup – avoid the bright colours preferably matte shades in neutral tones like taupe, stay clear from the shimmering stuff as these will give your lines more prominence – smokey eyes with pale lipstick is a very flattering palette on older women.

A bronzer will give any over 50s face a more youthful glow – choose one only two shades darker than your natural face colour and use it sparingly.

Use an angled eyebrow brush and dark powder make-up alternatively a shade lighter than your natural eyebrows, to thicken your brows, but don’t be tempted to get thick, black slugs tattooed on your forehead.

Oestrogen levels fall, leaving women with sprouting whiskers. Electrolysis is a permanent solution is pricey and leaves scabs in the short-term, you may wish to consider threading instead while some women swear by facial epilators.

Olive oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidant. Those two substances are essential for revitalizing and invigorate your skin. That’s because vitamins A, B-1, B-2, C, D, E, K and iron that are contained in olive oil can make the skin smooth, elastic and healthy. The antioxidant itself can eliminate the free radicals that are responsible for dry and dull skin. It is understandable why people from Mediterranean called this oil as beauty oil. Olive oil contains a fatty acid. When the body’s cell incorporate with that, it will make the arteries supple and as a result, skin looks more lustrous. It is best to use the Extra Virgin olive oil for the best result.

Look after your locks

Grey hair feels coarser due to the loss of natural oils, making it also finer than pigmented hair, avoid heavy conditioners as this will make your limp, choose a hairstyle and products that will give it volume

Contrary to popular belief there is no reason to chop off your hair if it is in good condition,

Get some advice from your professional hairdresser on how best to maintain your hair.Your Health

Your eyes are a good indication of your general health. it’s a good idea to get your eyesight checked, an experienced optician can spot anything from hypertension to glaucoma., especially after the menopause.

Don’t ignore niggly problems. This is the age when blood pressure and cholesterol levels start going up, your chances of developing further complications is quite real.

There comes a point when pedicures will no longer suffice nor will a new coat of nail polish, shellac or gel nails cover up hard, cracking foot skin and ingrowing nails – you will need to see your chiropodist, recurrent fungal problems need proper treatment – ask your GP for advice.

No need to put on orthopeadic shoes just yet, avoid ill-fitting stilettos as these will give you lower back problems and bunions. With block heels and wedge heels being all the rage and so trendy, you can still look funky and have more support.

Now is the time to get moving and stay moving, sign up at your community fitness classes, or join the yoga or pilates classes.

19th Edition of the show highlighted extraordinary designs and skills of VCUarts Qatar’s fashion design students

Doha, Qatar –Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar’s) previewed their collection as part of its annual fashion show on May 3rd 2018

The fashion show, opened by Sandra Wilkins, VCUarts Qatar’s Chair of Fashion Design, featured collections of 25 sophomore, junior and senior fashion students.
Wilkins explained that the title of this year’s fashion show was ‘Pendulum’.

“The ‘Pendulum’ theme represents our focus in establishing a design department that meets the needs of this growing and diverse industry. The whole foundation of design is built on reimagining, re-proportioning, re-fabricating and making new again,” she said.

The students were required to submit their designs to a jury of fashion experts.

Students from the campus in Richmond, Virginia also showcased their designs during the fashion show.

Selina Farooqui, a VCUarts Qatar alumnus, was a guest designer for the show, where she showcased her Ramadan 2018 Collection.

“Having graduated from VCUarts Qatar in 2011, it’s an honor to have been invited to be the guest designer at this year’s fashion show,” she said. “I remember when I was a student taking part in this show and showing my first collection, and now I am back here, having worked on my own fashion line.

Five VCUarts Qatar students will have their collections shown at the home campus annual fashion show on May 10.
Sandra Wilkins by VCUarts Qatar’s Executive Dean Donald Baker praised Wilkins for her 20 years of hard work, loyalty and dedication to the university, and the fashion industry in Qatar. Wilkins retires next month after two decades in Qatar.

The Qatari designer Nada Al-Sulaiti, founder of Hairaat Jewellery revealed the special piece ‘Together for 10 Million’ that was specifically designed for the celebrations of Education Above All foundation, recently took place in New York marking the reaching out to 10 Million out of school children.

The final design of the jewellery as created following hours of meetings, consultations and redesigns, to finally present this one of a kind piece in its current charm.

Hairaat firmly believes in EAA mission and vision that considers quality education a human right and will result in a better, prosperous and fulfilled future for alL

The Round Brooch set in gold with a center stone of specially clear rock crystal specially cut for this piece, with 4.97 carat Round Brilliant Diamond and 3.82 carat of Alex-andrite. It is designed as a circular brooch that can be worn in four different ways.

The jewellery embodies the values and mission of Education Above All in embracing vulnerable children and provide them with protection and support for better future. The jewellery captured the minds and hearts of the audience who praised the designer and appreciated the hard work of Hairaat in presenting a special piece that delvers noble messages.

The final design of the jewellery as created following hours of meetings, consultations and redesigns, to finally present this one of a kind piece in its current charm.

“HAIRAAT is extremely proud to be a part of this event, and present one of a kind jewellery that is designed especially for EAA celebration of supporting 10 million vulnerable children around the globe. We are here to support this noble cause and our country’s effort to deliver this human message to the world. This reiterates the role of art in supporting social causes, and reflects our commitments as Qataris in supporting our leadership vision”. said Nada Al-Sulaiti

“We would like to thank Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser for her wise vision, and are grateful to EAA for giving me this opportunity to present this jewellery that reflects the core values of EAA of supporting education and reaching out to all vulnerable children’, she continued

The jewellery was presented during the celebration of Education Above All celebrations in reaching out to 10 Million children and provide them with quality education through 65 projects in 50 countries. In partnership with the UNICEF, the event took place on 17th of April at New York Public Library.

Nada Bint Khamis Al-Sulaiti is a Qatari designer who is passionate for design. She established Hairaat in 2011, to bring a new concept for creative luxury in the jewellery world. Hairaat’s pieces radiate Qatar’s rich culture to the world through jewels blending it with International appeal, Creating unique statement pieces. Hairaat integrates honesty, integrity and ethics into all aspects of its business. Hairaat, which is an original Qatari concept, will grow through continued creativity and innovation.